Alliance for Student Activities
DifferenceMaker Award

Download the 2007-2008 Application (PDF, Get Adobe Reader)

2008 DifferenceMaker Award Winners Announced

Rules and Information

2008 DifferenceMaker Award Winners Announced

After careful evaluation of all the applications for the DifferenceMaker Award, the Alliance for Student Activities is proud to announce the winners for 2008. The decision was a difficult one because of the high quality of the projects submitted; judges ultimately decided that in addition to the two national winners, they also would award three honorable mentions.  The 2008 NSLW DifferenceMaker Awards go to:

High School National Winner:

• Detroit Lakes HS, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, advised by Bonnie Mohs, for their Care Week project that featured an assembly to educate the student body about the hunger needs of their county, a food drive, and several fundraising efforts for the local food pantry including a Mr. DLHS “mangeant” contest and a semi-formal dance.

HS Honorable Mentions:

• Liberty HS, Hillsboro, Oregon advised by Nicole Thompson
• Notre Dame HS, St. Louis, Missouri, advised by Ann Bolzenius

Middle Level National Winner:

• Sandy Valley MS #935, Sandy Valley, Nevada advised by Jamie S. Pascua, for its monthly "Feed the Hungry" project that focused on meeting the needs of local residents on an ongoing basis.

ML Honorable Mention:

• Blanchard MS, Westford, Massachusetts, advised by Liz Benstead

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Activity advisors who are affiliated with the Alliance for Student Activities are encouraged to submit their organization’s best service project in consideration for the Alliance’s DifferenceMaker Award, which honors groups whose service to their community has made a difference in their world. One high school member and one middle level member will receive national recognition, a plaque for their school, and a speech by motivational speaker “The Original” Mike Smith at their school during the following year.

Official Rules

• Activity advisors in the United States and Canada who are affiliated with the Alliance are eligible to apply.
  
• Projects must be carried out between April 1, 2008 and March 30, 2009.
  
• A photocopy of the advisor’s membership card or other proof of current membership in the Alliance must accompany the application.
  
• Entries must be submitted on the official form.
  
• Attachments to elaborate on items mentioned in the application are acceptable if they are mounted on 8.5” x 11” sheets. Submit no more than five additional sheets. Additional materials can include photos, newspaper clippings, copies of printed programs, CDs, or DVDs.
  
• Winners will be selected based on their written application forms and accompanying attachments. Judges’ decisions are final.
  
• Winners will be notified individually and will be posted at www.alliance4studentactivities.org in April 2009.
  
• Entries become the property of the Alliance and will not be returned. By entering, applicants grant the Alliance the right to publish names and quotes from entries in national materials and to the public. The Alliance reserves the rights (1) to not award a prize if none of the entries is deemed worthy and (2) to disqualify entries if they are not submitted according to the above guidelines.

Judging

A panel of judges representing organizations whose missions encompass service and leadership will judge the entries in April and will evaluate them based on:

• Engagement of the student body in the project (i.e., how many students were involved in the project)
• Impact of the project on the school or local community or results achieved
  
• Creativity of the project idea and/or its implementation
  
• Leadership demonstrated by group members in carrying out the project
  
• Written quality and clarity of the application.

Deadline for Entry

For award consideration, applications must be postmarked by March 30, 2009 and sent to DifferenceMaker Award, Alliance for Student Activities, 1129 Ortega Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114. (Note: The date stamped by the Post Office supersedes your school postage meter date.) Include a self-addressed, stamped postcard if you would like verification that your entry was received.

Download the 2007-2008 Application

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